Media | The editor-in-chief of Demarilehti defends the column that insulted Sanna Marini

Sdp’s editor-in-chief of the party newspaper Demokraat Petri Korhonen defends what his newspaper publishes Sanna Marinia robbing column.

In the text, a writer and leftist union activist Meri Valkama questions the former prime minister’s ethical backbone and compares him to basic Finns.

“I have made it clear that the task of the party’s chief voter is to stimulate discussion among the membership and voters,” says editor-in-chief Korhonen.

“We cannot avoid topics that are in the discomfort zone.”

Korhonen reminds that the magazine’s columnists include writers from many political orientations.

“However, we haven’t gotten any basic Finns to agree to be a writer yet.”

Korhonen according to the paper, there is no real Marin line: stories are published about the former star of the party, who has gone out into the world, from both critical and understanding perspectives.

After Valkama’s text, the demarian act was published in Demokrati Ismo Söderlingin Marin’s text listing achievements.

The editor-in-chief states in one of his editorials that he thinks that comparing the current leader of the party with the former one is not useful.

Valkaman the column is titled “The Prime Minister of Disappointments”.

“In my lifetime, I have never been disappointed with a politician, as I have been disappointed with Sanna Marin,” Valkama begins her text.

Then follows a list of accusations, which mentions both Marini’s tax planning and the emissions caused by the flights. However, Valkama says that he is particularly disappointed that Marin has not taken a stand on the suffering of the residents of Gaza.

In Valkama’s opinion, Marin, who speaks on behalf of Ukrainian civilians, should focus the spotlight on the events in Gaza as well.

“Where Marin has turned to act in economic matters, like the tax-evading business leaders he despised before, he has shown that his solidarity on the brink of war is the same as that of the basic Finns he deeply detests. What matters is mainly the white victims,” ​​Valkama writes.

Editor-in-Chief According to Korhonen, there hasn’t been much feedback about Valkama’s Marin robbery, even though it has been discussed on social media.

According to him, it seems that the cover-up around Marin’s appearances does not interest Dem activists nearly as much as it interests potential Dem voters and “Marin haters”.

“The outside gang has raised the fiercest uproar for and against,” he says.

“It is healthy that politicians are discussed. But the related misogyny and cash register thinking are repulsive.”

Sanna Marin reacted to the column himself on Friday in the message service X.

“No one would be more satisfied than the undersigned if every column millimeter written about me was used to address world conflicts, peace, human rights, equality and the climate crisis. I’m talking about these things in the world myself,” Marin wrote.

In his publication, he did not comment on the main criticism of the column, i.e. his reaction to the situation in Gaza. HS did not reach Marini to comment directly on the matter.

Marin left the position of MP a year ago after becoming a strategic advisor of the British think tank Tony Blair Institute. He also does speaking engagements through his own company.

Democrat editor-in-chief Petri Korhonen says that he understands Marin’s wish in X, but also considers it very unrealistic.

“All former prime ministers, with the possible exception of Juha Sipilä, are viewed through their former dominant position. If you’re in an influential position after a political career, it’s normal to be praised or surprised.”

Korhonen doesn’t like chasing the twists and turns in Marini’s personal life.

“Focusing on a person and having the paparazzi running after them is unfair and nauseating.”